Eddings Shuga Mkandawire (ELP 2024) | Executive Chairperson, Nyika Vwaza Association, Malawi
Imagine a time when the roar of a DNPW (Department of National Parks and Wildlife) vehicle was met with a hail of stones, a stark symbol of the deep-seated resentment between communities and conservation authorities. That was the reality we faced at Nyika Vwaza Association (NVA). Looking back at our journey and reflecting on the transformative changes we've achieved through collaborative management with DNPW in Nyika National Park, Vwaza Wildlife Reserve, and the surrounding communities, I'm filled with both pride and an insatiable hunger to do more.
In the past, the relationship between DNPW and local communities was marked by bitter distrust. The pain of past relocations from protected areas fuelled a narrative where wildlife was seen as "their animals," owned by DNPW, leading to anger and conflict when "your animals" destroyed community crops. The establishment of community associations and the implementation of collaborative management agreements initiated a revolution in this dynamic. We began building new bridges, and remarkably, firearms were voluntarily surrendered, a powerful testament to the growing trust. A sense of shared ownership began to flourish, shifting the narrative to "our animals." We established proper channels of communication, including regular joint meetings between community leaders and DNPW officials, and created robust structures for benefit sharing, ensuring resources reached their intended purpose effectively.
These transformative wins, made possible by the support of our dedicated teams and partners, are the fuel that ignites my passion to continue working towards a brighter future for these communities. It's about ensuring that the power we've empowered them with – a key outcome of projects like the Kulera Landscape REDD+ Project – is used for the common good.
The Kulera Landscape REDD+ Project for Co-managed Protected Areas in Malawi is a major achievement in itself. Initially, NVA's funding relied solely on the Revenue Sharing Scheme, receiving 25% of tourism revenue from the two protected areas. The Kulera REDD+ Project has provided a crucial new source of funding, enabling us to significantly expand our activities. The project's overall goals – to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, improve livelihoods by managing natural resources as an asset base, create long-term sustainable alternative livelihoods, enhance biodiversity, and increase food security – have become the driving force behind many of our successes.
For example, the tree planting initiative, where we celebrated planting a record-breaking 110,000 trees this year alone, all raised by our dedicated natural resources committees, was funded by Kulera REDD+. This achievement, and the community's dedication, exemplifies their deep connection with the earth and makes our Earth Day celebrations resonate profoundly.
Furthermore, Kulera REDD+ has been instrumental in our efforts to positively impact over 18,000 lives this year through various livelihood programs. These include small-scale livestock production (distribution of 800 goats, 4,000 chickens, and 400 piglets), crop diversification bundles (distribution of legume seeds, cassava cuttings, banana suckers, sweet potato vines, etc.), and beekeeping (provision of apiary materials to over 20 beekeeping enterprises). I am particularly proud of the finesse with which we've managed these programs this year, a testament in part to the transformative influence of the ELP program. The leadership skills I've honed through ELP, including conflict resolution and strategic planning, are directly contributing to the refined management approaches we're implementing.
Of course, our journey is not without its challenges. Limited resources often hinder our ability to reach all parts of our vast area of jurisdiction. Conservation demands significant resources for effective implementation and outreach. Monitoring activities becomes futile without adequate resources. Behaviour change is a long-term investment, and financial constraints can lead to frustrating setbacks, where progress is often followed by regression. This can, unfortunately, redirect community frustration towards wildlife, exacerbating human-wildlife conflict. For example, when we face shortfalls in delivering promised support, such as a planned distribution of 200 goats where we can only provide 70%, the remaining 30% can feel betrayed, increasing the risk of poaching. However, our collaborations with various stakeholders often mitigate these situations, though they also present challenges related to conflicting policies and potential conflicts of interest.
Looking ahead, we are actively seeking new partnerships to expand the reach of our association and secure more sustainable funding to adequately and efficiently serve our communities. Despite the challenges, the resilience and dedication of these communities, coupled with our growing partnerships and the power of initiatives like the Kulera REDD+ Project, fill me with optimism for the future.